Major League Baseball has announced that is has suspended New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez through the 2014 season without pay.
The suspension amounts to 211 games and will begin on Thursday (August 8). A Rod is expected to appeal the ruling. He was suspended along with 12 other players found to be involved with the South Florida clinic Biogenesis, which reportedly distributed banned performance-enhancing drugs to athletes.
In two statements, MLB commissioner Bud Selig said he was “proud of the comprehensive nature of our efforts — not only with regard to random testing, groundbreaking blood testing for human Growth Hormone and one of the most significant longitudinal profiling programs in the world, but also our investigative capabilities, which proved vital to the Biogenesis case.”
Selig added that Rodriguez was suspended for “use and possession of numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including testosterone and human growth hormone, over the course of multiple years. Rodriguez’s discipline under the Basic Agreement is for attempting to cover-up his violations of the program by engaging in a course of conduct intended to obstruct and frustrate the Office of the Commissioner’s investigation.”
The other players suspended are:
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Antonio Bastardo
San Diego Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera
New York Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli
Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz
Padres pitcher Fautino De Los Santos
Houston Astros pitcher Sergio Escalona
Yankees outfielder Fernando Martinez
Seattle Mariners catcher Jesus Montero
Free agent pitcher Jordan Norberto
Detroit Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta
New York Mets outfielder Cesar Puello
Mets infielder/outfielder Jordany Valdespin
